South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has first-round NFL talent—maybe even No. 1 pick talent—all over him. But the NFL will have to wait a year on this sophomore and college players, well, they just have to endure his ferocity for one more season.

Clowney’s prowess was on display for the nation Saturday in the Gamecocks’ 33-28 victory in the Outback Bowl. Peeved by a bad spot on a fake punt by Michigan that allowed Michigan to keep the ball, Clowney made the Wolverines pay.

Before running back Vincent Smith knew what hit him, Clowney was in his chest, hitting Smith so hard that his helmet flew 10 yards behind him. Of course Smith fumbled and of course, Clowney palmed the loose ball with his left hand while still on top of Smith, then got up and ran for a couple more yards.

"I asked one of those other refs there. I said, 'You know the ball did not touch the first-down marker.' He said, 'I know it didn't.' I said, 'Well, why did he give it to them?' and he said, 'I don't know,'" Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said.

"Clowney knocked the ball out the next play, so I'm glad they gave it to them. ... We gained about 10 or 15 yards."

On the next play, the Gamecocks were in the end zone with a terrific TD catch by receiver Ace Sanders to give South Carolina the 27-22 lead.

Michigan, winners of last year’s Sugar Bowl, responded immediately on the ensuing possession. Devin Gardner drove the ball from Michigan’s 36 to South Carolina’s 17, hitting Jeremy Gallon for a 17-yard touchdown strike that made put the Wolverines up 28-27 following the failed 2-point conversion at the 3:29 mark.

South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw was gimpy most of the game and was on the sideline halfway through the Gamecocks’ last-ditch drive. Only it wasn’t a throwaway. Backup Dylan Thompson, injured as well, stepped in with 42 seconds left and worked until he found Bruce Ellington, who is also on the basketball team, on a 32-yard touchdown to seal the outcome.

Shaw will get credit for playing with guts and throwing for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Thompson was impressive as well, completing a critical 7-of-9 throws for 117 yards and two scores. Sanders, one of the country’s most underrated talents, caught nine passes for 92 yards and two TDs.

"I don't know if I've ever given two quarterbacks a game ball, but today I said: 'Hey, we've got to give them to both you guys,'" Spurrier said.

"Both those young men are just so super team-oriented. There's no jealousy, nothing. ... Those guys are just really, really good teammates. Wonderful team players," the coach added. "We tried to tell Connor: 'It's your game.' And it was his game, but Dylan was going to play. He understood that. It worked beautifully as it turned out."

There were plenty of accolades to throw around for the 11-2 Gamecocks. But the player most deserving is Clowney, who continued to do what he has done all season—only this time with even more of the country’s attention.

Clowney finished sixth in this year’s Heisman Trophy voting and had arguably a better season that finalist Manti Te’o, the Notre Dame senior linebacker. Clowney, barring any unforeseen developments, will be well positioned to be a Heisman finalist next season when his collegiate career will almost surely end.

Another career that sunsets is that of Michigan’s Denard Robinson. “Shoelace” showed off some of the nifty moves that made him an elusive dual-threat for three-and-half years before he was set back with an elbow injury this year. Robinson turns to the NFL, where he could play cornerback, special teams or someplace else.

"It was just what I thought it was going to be," Robinson said of his finale with the team. "I tried to make the most of it."

He leaves the offense in the capable hands of Devin Gardner, who helped Michigan to an 8-5 record despite starting the year as a reserve receiver.